90904 - PREDICTION AND THE FUTURE OF PUBLIC POLICY

Anno Accademico 2022/2023

  • Docente: Alberto Cevolini
  • Crediti formativi: 8
  • SSD: SPS/08
  • Lingua di insegnamento: Inglese

Conoscenze e abilità da conseguire

The aim of the course is to provide an overview of the evolution of forms of prediction in the public sphere. At the end of the course the student will be able to: • distinguish probabilistic and algorithmic forms of prediction • identify assumptions and consequences of different forms of prediction • analyze and interpret concrete cases of planning in the field of public policy.

Contenuti

Insurance is a pillar of modern society. Its business model is based on statistical and probabilistic calculations. Digital technologies and the availability of behavioural data promise to disrupt this business model with far-reaching social consequences. The course will focus on the impact of usage-based insurance policies on society as a whole. The first part of the course deals with the main mechanism underlying the insurance business, its preconditions and sociological relevance. In the second part of the course, we discuss the main social consequences of behavioural data-driven predictions and the changing idea of prevention (proactivity) in modern social systems. Case studies will be telematics motor insurance and pay-as-you-live insurance policies.

Against the backdrop of the topic of usage-based insurance, course participants will familiarize with the issues of behavioural valuation of policyholders in contemporary society. Within the framework of a sociological theory of insurance, they will acquire the skills required to observe and critically comment on the diffusion of digital innovations in the insurance industry. The focus on InsurTech and usage-based insurance policies will allow participants to concretely examine some crucial issues such as fairness, information asymmetry, preventive strategies, mutuality and risk-transfer mechanisms.

Testi/Bibliografia

A detailed syllabus will be provided at the beginning of the course.

Metodi didattici

The course is organized according to the model of the Structured Seminar. Twelve hours will be taught in six 2-hour classes (first three lectures weeks) that introduce the basic concepts and crucial issues of insurance as a social institution based on prediction. The remaining classes will be organized as seminars held in presence in fourteen meetings (2 hours each).

Participants are expected to read the materials in advance and actively contribute to the discussion. They are supposed to present at least a paper and prepare two questions for each meeting, that can be presented and debated during the sessions. After each session, they will deliver a short memo (e.g. several bullet points) summarizing their understanding of the outcome of the meeting in terms of the issues they find most relevant. At the end of the course, they will write a paper commenting and discussing one of the topic discussed during the meetings.

Modalità di verifica e valutazione dell'apprendimento

Class attendance: 35%

Oral presentation: 25%

Written memos and paper: 40%

Orario di ricevimento

Consulta il sito web di Alberto Cevolini